Ramoji Film City

Ramoji Film City
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryMotion pictures
Founded1996; 29 years ago (1996)
FounderRamoji Rao
Headquarters
Abdullahpurmet, Hyderabad
,
India
ParentRamoji Group
Websiteramojifilmcity.com

Ramoji Film City is an integrated film studio facility located in Hyderabad, India. Spread over 2,000 acres (810 ha),[1] it is recognized as the world's largest film studio complex by the Guinness World Records.[2][3] Established in 1996 by Telugu media proprietor Ramoji Rao, it has been described as a "city within a city" by The Guardian.[4]

In addition to serving as a major hub for film production, Ramoji Film City is a popular thematic holiday destination, featuring a mix of natural landscapes, artificial sets, and an amusement park. Around 1.5 million tourists visit the place every year.[5]

History

Ramoji Film City, located in Abdullapurmet on the outskirts of Hyderabad, was conceived by Ramoji Rao, a businessman, media proprietor, and film producer.[1] Drawing inspiration from the grandeur of Hollywood studios, it was envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility for film production and a thematic destination for visitors.[6]

Following the acquisition of land, Ramoji Rao commissioned art director Nitish Roy to design the complex. The site, which originally featured jungles and rugged terrain, was developed with a focus on preserving its natural environment and ecological features.[7]

The first film to be entirely shot at Ramoji Film City was Maa Nannaku Pelli (1997).[8]

Studio facilities

Ramoji Film City Entrance

The film city encompasses a wide range of sets and production facilities designed to cater to various filmmaking requirements. The site includes permanent sets such as forests, gardens, mansions, apartment blocks, hotels, a railway station, and an airport,[9] as well as 47 sound stages for indoor filming. Additional infrastructure include a central kitchen to support film crews.[3][10]

The facility is equipped with six hotels and provides internal transportation via vintage buses and air-conditioned coaches. Employing approximately 1,200 staff members and 8,000 agents, Ramoji Film City handles around 400–500 film productions annually across multiple Indian languages.[9] It can accommodate up to 15 simultaneous shoots.[9]

Tourism

Beyond its role in film production, Ramoji Film City is a major tourist destination, featuring both natural and artificial attractions.[6] Key elements include an amusement park, gardens, and film sets from notable productions such as Baahubali (2015) and Baahubali 2 (2017). Attracting nearly 1.5 million visitors annually, the facility offers a range of experiences, including tours of film sets and thematic zones. The site is designed to provide a blend of entertainment and insight into the filmmaking process.[11][5][9]

  • A view from Ramoji Film City
    A view from Ramoji Film City
  • A railway station set used in the film Chennai Express
    A railway station set used in the film Chennai Express
  • Statue of Bhallaladeva from Baahubali franchise
    Statue of Bhallaladeva from Baahubali franchise
  • Burasura at Fundustan fun area
    Burasura at Fundustan fun area
  • Eureka fun place
    Eureka fun place
  • Views from Ramoji Film City
    Views from Ramoji Film City
  • Dilse Restaurant
    Dilse Restaurant
  • Baahubali film set
    Baahubali film set
  • Film sets
    Film sets
  • Railway station platform set
    Railway station platform set
  • Film sets
    Film sets
  • A view from Main Fun area
    A view from Main Fun area
  • Mock of a Rajasthan palace
    Mock of a Rajasthan palace
  • Historical Bhagavatam set
    Historical Bhagavatam set
  • Vrindavan gardens setting
    Vrindavan gardens setting
  • Mughal Garden
    Mughal Garden
  • Views from Ramoji Film City
    Views from Ramoji Film City
  • Views from Ramoji Film City
    Views from Ramoji Film City
  • Mughal Garden
    Mughal Garden
  • A set of England
    A set of England
  • Ramoji Film City
    Ramoji Film City
  • Ramoji Film City
    Ramoji Film City


See also

References

  1. ^ a b "About Us". Ramoji Film City. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Survey of world's biggest film facilities". The Hollywood Reporter. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Largest film studio". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ Reith-Banks, Tash (29 January 2019). "Tollywood confidential: inside the world's biggest film city". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b Iyer, Pico (7 February 2012). "In India, the World's Largest Movie Studio—and Its Colorful Films". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b Nathan, Archana (6 February 2018). "At Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, everything is about show business (and not just for filmmakers)". Scroll. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  7. ^ Reddem, Appaji (4 March 2022). "Is Telugu cinema set for a change of scene Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 September 2022. Ramoji Film City, which was built in Hyderabad in 1996 ....
  8. ^ Dasagrandhi, Madhuri (8 July 2018). "Where the magic gets unfolded". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d Reddem, Appaji (4 March 2022). "Is Telugu cinema set for a change of scene?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Ramoji Film City sets record". Business Line. 3 August 2005. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Ramoji Film City may lose land to ORR - Hyderabad - City". The Times of India. 6 July 2006. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
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17°15′07″N 78°40′52″E / 17.252°N 78.681°E / 17.252; 78.681